Lock for automobiles and the like.



LOCK FOB. Au'rumumhw AJNU Ann nun. APPLICATION FILED JAN. 30, 1913.

Patented Dec. 30, 1913.

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JOHN E. POT'IS, OF DAYTON, OHIO.

LOCK FOR AUTOMOBILES AND THE LIKE.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Dec. 30, 1913.

Application filed January 30, 1913. Serial No. 745,124.

To all whom it may concern Be it known that I, J OHN E. Porrs, a citizen of the United States, residing at Dayton, in the county of Montgomery and State of Ohio, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Locks for Automobiles and the like, of which the following is a specification, reference being had therein to the accompanying drawing.

This invention relates to looks for automobiles and the like and more particularly to a combination lock for some part of the controlling mechanism of an automobile.

The object of the invention is to provide a combination lock mounted directly on the controlling member and having movement therewith, thus enabling the locking member or bolt to be mounted on the part of the mechanism which is to be locked and the combination lock to be mounted in a position in which it will be readily accessible.

A further object is to provide such a lock which will be strong and simple in construction and positive in its operation.

Another object is to so construct the lock that the operator may be guided in the operation thereof by sound or by sense of touch; and still another object of the invention is to inclose the mechanism of the combination lock in a casing which can be removed only when the mechanism has been operated to release the locked part, thus preventing the removal of the casing by any one not having the combination.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure 4 l is a perspective view of a transmission controlling lever of an automobile showing my invention applied thereto; Fig. 2 is a vertical section taken centrally through the combination lock and the upper portion of the lever; Fig. 3 is a similar view taken through the lower portion of the combination look and extending at an angle to the plane of the section of Fig. 2; Fig. & is a transverse, sectional view taken on the line :0 a: of Fig. 2 and looking in the direction of the arrows; Fig. 5 is a perspective view of the locking disk and ratchet wheel; and Fig. 6 is a section taken vertically through the casing and H-shaped guide plate for the lever.

In these drawings I have illustrated one embodiment of my shown the same as applied to the controlling lever of a transmission mechanism of an automobile, but it will be understood that invention and have this particular device is chosen for the purpose of illustrating the invention and that the invention is capable of application to various movable parts which it is desirable to lock in one or more positions and that it is particularly applicable to levers and other manually actuated controlling members, such as the steering mechanism.

In these drawings the controlling lever, or part to be locked, as shown at 1, is mounted at its lower end upon a shaft 2 in the usual manner and is guided in its movements by a guide plate 3 having the usual H-shaped slot 4, the slotted plate being commonly known as the H. The lever l is provided with a longitudinal opening 5 in which is mounted a vertically reciprocable rod 6, the lower end of which is connected with a locking member or bolt by means of which the lever can be locked in a fixed position in the guide plate. As here shown this locking member or bolt comprises a plate 7 mounted to move vertically on the lever l and having on opposite sides of the lever depending flanges 8 adapted to extend into the two parallel slots of the H when the lever is in the transverse slot and thus lock the lever in this central or neutral position. By manipulating the rod 5 the plate 7 can be raised to such an extent that the lower edges of the flanges 8 will clear the upper surface of the guide plate and thus permit the lever to be moved into any portion of the slot.

The rod 6 is provided at its upper end with means for manipulating the same and means are mounted on the lever itself for controlling the action of this actuating means. Preferably this controlling device is in the form of a keylcss or combination look. In that form of the device here shown the combination lock comprises a body portion 9 which is connected with and forms a part of the lever 1. The body portion has at its lower end a base 10 and has its upper portion reduced, as shown at 11, to form a hub upon which are mounted the operating devices for the lock. This body portion of the lock has a central longitudinal bore 12 in which is mounted a longitudinally reciprocable plunger 13 rigidly connected at its lower end with the rod 6 and constituting, in the present instance, the means for manipulating the locking member 7 for the lever. A spring 14 may, if desired, be coiled between the lower end of the plunger 13 and the bottom of the longitudinal bore 12 to move the plunger outwardly when it is released from the locking devices. Ordinarily, however, I prefer to omit this spring and make it necessary to move the plunger outward by hand, as this makes itmore diflicult to manipulate the combination and, consequently, makes the look a more difiicult one for an unauthorized person to open. here the spring is used the plunger will move outwardly automatically the moment the lock-controlling devices are brought into their proper relative positions to release the lock, but, when the spring is omitted it is necessary to take hold of the plunger and eXert an outward pull on the same each time one of the controlling members is shifted a single point. Yet in the authorized operation of the lock it adds little to the manipulation thereof.

The controlling devices for the plunger may be of any suitable kind, but those shown in the drawings are very simple and very effective. The plunger is provided between its ends with two recesses, such as the annular grooves 15 and 16 separated a short distance one from the other. The reduced portion or hub of the body of the lock is provided with a longitudinal slot 17 in which is mounted a locking member or lever 18 having near its upper end an inwardly extending projection or lug 19 adapted to enter either one of the annular grooves 15 and 16 in the plunger. The upper and lower ends of this lug are inclined or rounded so that the inclined walls of the grooves will tend to force the locking member or lever 18 outward and permit the longitudinal movement of the plunger. The lever is preferably pivoted at its lower end, as shown at 20, in a transverse slot 21 formed in the base of the lock and is held normally in the longitudinal slot 17 by means of a spring. In the present instance, the lever is L-shaped and a spring 22 is confined between the short arm 23 of the locking lever and the base of the lock. It will be noted that I have provided means for locking the plunger in either of two positions, thus locking the bolt or locking member 7 in either its operative or inoperative position and preventing the unauthorized locking of the controlling lever as well as preventing the unauthorized manipulation thereof. The locking and unlocking of the plunger is controlled by controlling the outward movement of the locking lever 18. In the present device this is accomplished by rotatably mounting on the hub portion of the body of the look a series of lock-controlling members which are free to rotate about the hub. Each of these members is provided with a notch or recess and when the several their respective notches into alinement one with the other and with the locking lever the latter is free to move outward and the plunger can be moved longitudinally to manipulate the lock for the lever. As many lock-controlling members may be employed as may seem desirable. In the present instance, I have employed three. Each of these lock controlling members comprises a ratchet wheel 24: fitting snugly about the hub portion of the body of the lock, free to rotate thereon, having the spaces between its teeth V-shaped and provided at its inner edge with a notch or recess 25 of a size and depth suflicient to receive the locking memher or lever 18. The ratchet wheel has a downwardly extending flange 26, spaced away from the hub, and mounted on this flange is a disk 27 of a diameter somewhat larger than the diameter of the ratchet wheel. This disk is so connected with the ratchet wheel as to cause them normally to move together but to permit the two parts to have relative movement when desired. This connection, in the present instance, comprises a spring-pressed pawl 28 pivotally mounted on the disk 27 and having a V-shaped nose adapted to enter the notches in the periphery of the ratchet wheel. The adjacent lock-controlling members are spaced apart by means of a collar 29 and this collar may, if desired, be formed integral with or rigidly secured to the disk 27 and, in the present instance, the flange 26 of the ratchet wheel is of a length equal to the distance between the ratchet wheels of the adiacent lock-controlling members.

Means are provided for holding the lockcontrolling members in adjusted positions and, as here shown, this means comprises flat springs 30 mounted in a fixed part of the lock and having their ends adapted to engage in a series of recesses 31 formed in the peripheries of the respective disks 2?. These springs have another function in addition to that of holding the lock-controlling members in adjusted positions. hen the disks are moved from one position to another the springs will move from one recess to the other with a sharp sound or click which can be clearly heard or felt by the operator and may be utilized to guide him in the adjustment of the lock-controlling members. This is a very desirable feature in a lock of this kind as it is often necessary to operate the combination in the dark or when the light is s3 poor that numbers could not be easily rea The lock-controlling members are inclosed in an inner casing 32 of an inner diameter substantially equal to the diameter of the disks 27 This inner casing is provided with a series of horizontal slots 33 corresponding in number with the lock-controlling members and arranged adjacent to the edges of the respective disks 27, each of which has secured thereto a pin 34 which projects through the slot into a position in which it can be engaged for rotating the disk. The inner casing is also provided with a vertical slot 34* extending transversely to the several disks. The disks are provided on their peripheries with the numerals 1 to 9, not shown, and when in any of their adjusted positions one numeral of each disk can be read through the vertical slot 34*, thereby enablin the lock-controlling members to be adjusted and the combinations of numbers indicating the positions of the members to be ascertained.

The entire locking mechanism is inclosed in an outer casing 35 which is preferably cylindrical in form, rests at its lower end upon a shoulder 36 formed about the periphery of the base 10 and constitutes a handle by means of which the controlling lever 1 may be manipulated. This casing is comprised of inner and outer walls 37 and 38. The inner wall has a seriesof horizontal slots 39 correspondin in number with and arranged to aline with the horizontal slots in the inner casing 32. Mounted in and forming a part of the outer wall of the casing are a series of rings 40 corresponding in number with the horizontal slots 39 in the inner wall of the outer casing anu each having rigidly secured thereto a pin 41 which projects through the adjacent slot in the inner wall of the casing and into a position to engage the pin 34 which projects through the corresponding slot in the inner casing and which are free to rotate through the limits of the horizontal slots in .the inner wall of this casing.

\Vhen the lock is to be manipulated to release the plunger 13 the outer casing 35, which has'a milled portion near its upper end, is rotated in one direction to cause the pins on the several rings to pick up the pins of the lock-controlling devices and move the same to the limit of their movement in one direction, which would usuallybe their zero positions. The outer casing is then rotated in the opposite direction to cause the pins of the casing to engage on the opposite sides of the pins of the lock-controlling devices, that is, to assume such positions with relation to the pins of the lock-controlling devices that further movement of the rings, either with the casing or independently thereof, will move the lock-controlling devices out of their zero positions and advance them a distance corresponding to the distance the rings are moved. This distance is determined by counting the clicks of the springs which engage the disks 27. Thus, if

the combination of numbers which must be in alinement with the sight opening to bring the several notches in the lock-controlling devices in alinement with each other and with the locking lever 18 is 574, for example,

the upper ring of the outer casing will be advanced five points, the second ring seven points and the third ring four points. This will bring the notches in proper relation to each other and to the locking lever and the locking lever will be free to move outward when suflicient force is applied to the plunger to overcome the pressure of the spring 22 which holds the locking lever in locking position;

The outer casing may be secured in osition upon the body portion of the 100 in any suitable manner but I prefer to provide some means which will prevent this outer casing being removed by a person not having the combination. In other words to make it impossible for the outer casing to be removed when the plunger 13 is locked in either of its positions. To this end I have provided the inner wall of the outer casing with an annular groove 42 and arranged in alinement with a radial opening 43 formed in the base of the body portion of the lock and having mounted therein a radially movable pin 44. The pin is of such a length that when its outer end is in the slot in the casing its inner end will lie substantially flush with the inner end of the opening 43. The plunger 13 has formed in the lower portion thereof a recess or an annular groove 45 having its walls tapered inwardly. This groove is so arranged with relation to the opening 43 that when the plunger is in either of its locked positions the groove will be out of alinement with the pin 44 and the end of this pin will bear against the surface of the plunger, thus retaining the outer end of the pin in the annular groove in the outer casing and securing this casing in position on the lock. When the plunger is moved into a position midway between its locked positions the groove 45 will be moved into alinement with the opening 43 and the pin 44 may be moved out of the groove 42, thereby releasing the casing. This movement is preferably accomplished by means of a spring 46 coiled about the pin and confined between a collar 47 secured thereto and a screw plug 48 which closes the outer end of the opening 43 and is apertured to permit the passage of the pin 44.

The .construction of the device is such that it is a simple matter to change the combination of the lock. To accomplish this the outer casing is removed and the plunger 13 is moved into its intermediate position in which the projection on the locking lever 18 will bear against the surface of the plunger between the upper and lower grooves 15 and 16 and thus retain the locking lever in the notches in the lock-controlling devices and holding these devices against movement. As has been above stated the notches are formed in the ratchet wheels which form a part of the lock-controlling devices and the disks are capable of movement relatively to these ratchet wheels. Thus, by shifting the positions of the disks while the ratchet wheels are locked against movement the positions of the pins 34 will be changed with relation to the notches in the ratchet and the amount of movement necessary to be imparted to each lock-controlling device to bring its notch into releasing position will be changed. Each disk may be provided with a recess 49 to receive the end of a steel pin or a nail to facilitate the moving of the disk. After the disks have been shifted the vertical slot 34 will reveal the new combination.

The operation of the mechanism will be readily understood from the foregoing description and it will be apparent that I have provided a combination lock which can be mounted on and made a part of one of the controlling members of an automobile or the like and which is of such a character that it can be very quickly and easily manipulated to lock or unlock the part by which it is carried. In this manner I provide a lock for the controlling member of a machine which does not require the use of a key and which is so mounted as to be readily accessible. Further, the lock is so constructed that it may be manipulated in the dark as readily as in the light.

While I have shown and described one embodiment of my invention it will be understood that this has been chosen for the purpose of illustration only and that I do not desire to be limited to the details of construction shown and described for obvious modifications will occur to a person skilled in the art. For example, the bolt of the lock, which is herein characterized as the plunger or rod will find its full equivalent in bolts of various kinds, and the spaced grooves of the bolt will find their full equivalent in spaced recesses of any kind having a similar function.

Having thus fully described my invention, what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is

1. In a permutation lock, the combination, with a support, and a plunger movably mounted thereon and having a recess, a locking member movable toward and away from said plunger, yieldable means to move said member toward said plunger, said member having a part adapted to enter said recess and constructed and arranged to be forced out of said recess by the movement of said plunger, and a plurality of unconnected and independently movable lockcontrolling members to positively retain said looking member in said recess.

2. In a permutation lock, the combination, with a support and a plunger movably mounted thereon, of a locking member movably mounted on said support and adapted to engage said plunger to lock the latter in one of two positions, and a pluralit of members extending about said bolt an independently movable relatively thereto for controlling the movements of said locking member, and means to simultaneously move all of the last-mentioned members to their initial positions.

3. In a permutation lock, the combination, with a support and a plunger movably mounted thereon, of a locking member movably mounted on said support and adapted to engage said plunger to lock the latter in one of two positions, a plurality of members extending about said bolt and independently movable relatively thereto for controlling the movements of said locking member, and a single device to move all of the last-mentioned members to their initial positions.

4. In a permutation lock, the combination, with a support and a plunger slidably mounted thereon, said plunger having a recess, of a locking member carried by the support and having a part adapted to enter the recess in said plunger, a plurality of lock-controlling members extending about said plunger and said locking member, each of said lock-controlling members having a recess adapted to be moved into and out of alinement with said locking member, means to move said lock-controlling members to their initial positions, and other means to adjust said lock-controlling members to bring their recesses into alinement with said locking member.

5. In a permutation lock, the combination with a support and a plunger slidably mounted therein, the plunger being formed with a groove, a locking member carried by the support and having a part adapted to enter the groove of the plunger, a plurality of lockcontrolling members extending about said plunger and said locking member, each of said lock-controlling members having a recess adapted to be moved into and out of alinement with said locking member, a casing inclosing said lock-controlling members, and means carried by said casing and operable from the exterior thereof for independently actuating said lockcontrolling members.

6. In a permutation lock, the combination with a support and a plunger slidably mounted therein, the plunger being formed with a groove, a locking member carried by the support and having a part adapted to enter the groove of the plunger, and a plurality of lock-controlling members extending about said plunger and said locking member, each of said lock-controlling members having a recess adapted to be moved into and out of alinement with said locking member, a casing inclosing said lock-controlling members, and a plurality of rings mounted on the exterior of said casing and having means for actuating the respective lock-controlling members.

7. In a permutation lock, the combination, with a casing and a plunger slidably mounted therein, of a locking member mounted within said casing and movable into and out of locking engagement with said plunger, a lock-controlling member mounted within said casing to control the movements of said locking member, and means carried by said casing and operable from the exterior thereof for actuating said lock-controlling member.

8. In a permutation lock, the combina-- tion, with a support, and a plunger movably mounted thereon, of a casing mounted on the support, a locking member mounted within the casing and movable into and out of locking engagement with said plunger, and a plurality of members permanently mounted on said casing and operable from the exterior thereof for controlling said locking member.

9. In a permutation lock, the combination with a support and a plunger movably mounted therein, of a locking member mounted on the support and movable into and out of locking relation with said plunger, a plurality of controlling members for the locking member extending about the plunger and said locking-member and each having a notch therein, a casing inclosing said controlling members and said lockingmember, and means carried by sald casmg for independently actuating said controlling members.

10. In a permutation lock, the combination, with a support, and a plunger movably mounted thereon, of a, locking member mounted on said support and movable into and out of locking relation to said plunger, a plurality of controlling members for the locking member extending about the plunger and the locking member and each having a notch therein, a casing inclosing said controlling members and said locking member and having movement relatively thereto to carry said controlling members to their initial positions, and means carried by said casing for independently actuating said controlling members.

11. The combination, with a movable plunger having a recess, of a locking member having a part adapted to enter said recess, and a plurality of lock-controlling members each having a recess adapted to be moved into alinement with said locking member, and means supported independently of said lock-controlling members for impartmovement thereto.

The combination, with a support, a

ing

plunge-r reciprocally mounted in said support and having a recess therein, a locking member mounted on said support and having a part adapted to enter said recess, a plurality of disks surrounding said support and each having a recess adapted to be moved into alinementwith said locking member, and means supported independently of said disks for imparting movement thereto.

13. In a permutation lock, the combination with a support having a longitudinal opening and a longitudinal slot in one side thereof connecting with said opening, a plunger mounted in the longitudinal opening and having a groove therein adjacent to the slot in said-support, a sprin -held looking lever mounted in said slot and having a part adapted to enter said groove of the plunger, a plurality of lock-controlling disks surrounding said support and said lever, each disk having a recess adapted to be moved into alinement with said lever, a casing inclosing said lock-controlling disks, actuating devices carried by said casing and operated from the exterior thereof, and means for operatively connecting said actuating devices with the respective lock-controlling disks.

14. In a permutation lock, the combination with a support and a plunger, the latter having a recess therein, said support being formed with a slot adapted to register with the recess in one position of the plunger, a spring-held locking-lever mounted in said slot and having a part to enter said recess, a plurality of lock-controlling disks surrounding said support and said lever, each disk having a recess to be moved into alinement with said lever, an inner casing surrounding said controlling disks and having slots arranged adjacent to the respective controlling disks, a pin carried by each controlling disk and extending through the adjacent slot in the casing, an outer casing inclosing said inner casing, and actuating devices carried by said outer casing and adapted to engage the respective pins carried by said controlling disks.

15. In a permutation lock, the combination with a support and a plunger, the latter having a recess therein, said. support being formed with a slot adapted to register with the recess in one position of the plunger, a spring-held locking-lever mounted in said slot and having a part to enter said recess, a plurality of lock-controlling disks surrounding said support and said lever. each disk having a recess to be moved into alinement with said lever, an inner casing surrounding said controlling disks and having slots arranged adjacent to the respective controlling disks, a pin carried by each controlling disk and extending through the adjacent slot in the casing, a

rotatable outer casing inclosing said inner casing, and actuating devices carried by said outer casing and adapted to engage the respective pins carried by said controlling disks.

16. In a permutation lock, the combination, with a support and a plunger, the latter having a recess therein, said support belng formed with a slot to registeriwith the recess of said plunger, a locking lever mounted in said slot and having a part to enter said recess, a plurality of lock-controlling members surrounding said support and said lever, each controlling member having a recess to be moved into alinement with said lever, a rotatable casing inclosing said lock-controlling members, and means carried by said casing to move all of saidlock-controlling members to their initial positions and to move said controlling members separately to cause the respective recesses therein to register with said locking member.

17. In a permutation lock, the combination, with a support, and a plungerhaving a recess, said support being formed with a slot adapted to register with said recess, a locking lever mounted in said slot and having a part to enter said recess, a plurality of lock-controlling disks surrounding said support and said lever, each disk having a recess to be moved into alinement with said lever, an inner casing surrounding said controlling disks and having slots arranged adjacent to the respective controlling disks, a pin carried by each controlling disk and extending through the adjacent slot in said inner casing, a rotatable outer casing inclosing said inner casing, actuating devices carried by said outer casing and adapted to engage the respective pins carried by said controlling disks, and means to limit the movement of said actuating members relatively to said casing, whereby the rotation of said casing will cause said actuating members to engage the pins of said controlling disks and move the latter to their initial positions.

18. In a permutation lock, the combination with a support and a plunger movably mounted therein, of means carried by the support for locking the plunger in one of two positions, a casing inclosing said locking means, and a device actuated by the movement of said plunger into either of said two positions to secure said casing in position about said locking means.

19. In a permutation lock, the combination with a support and a plunger movably mounted therein, of a locking member carried by the support and adapted to engage said plunger to lock the same against movement, lock-controlling devices to control the movement of said locking-member, a casing inclosing said lockcontrolling devices, means operable from the exterior of said casing to actuate said lock-controlling devices, and means controlled by the position of said plunger for locking the casing in position about said lock-controllin devices.

20. In a permutation lock, t e combination with a support and a plunger movably mounted therein, of a locking member carried by the support and adapted to engage said plunger to lock the same against movement, lock-controlling devices to control the movement of said locking-member, a casing inclosing said lock -controlling devices, means operable from the exterior of said casing to actuate said lock-controlling devices, sald casing having an internal groove and said plunger havin a recess, and a pin reciprocally mounted in said support and having one end adapted to enter said recess and the other end adapted to enter said groove.

21. In a permutation lock, the combination with a support, of a casing secured to said support, a plunger mounted in said support, locking devices mounted within the casing for controlling the movement of said plunger, a device to lock said casing against removal controlled by the position of said plunger, and means operable from the exteriorof said casing for actuating the locking devices within said casing.

22. In a permutation lock, the combina tion with a support, of a casing mounted on said support, a plunger reciprocally mounted in said support and formed with spaced recesses, of a locking member carried by the support within the casing and movable toward and away from said plunger and having a part adapted to enter either of said recesses to lock the plunger in either of two positions, means for controlling the movement of said locking member, and means controlled by the plunger for locking the casing to the support.

23. In a permutation lock, the combination with a support, of a casing mounted on said support, a plunger reciprocally mounted in said support and formed with spaced recesses, of a locking member carried by the support within the casin and movable toward and away from sai plunger and having a part adapted to enter either of said recesses to lock the plunger in either of two positions, means for controlling the movement of said locking member, said casing having an internal groove and said plun er having a third recess, and a in reciproca lly mounted in the support and aving one end adapted to enter said last mentioned recess when the locking member is disengaged from either of the two first mentioned recesses, the other end of the pin being engaged with the casing when said pin is not engaged in the last mentioned recess.

24. In a permutation lock, the combination with a support and a plunger mounted therein, of a casing secured to said. support,

--- watt. New. I I

said plun er havin a recess formed in that portion thereof lying within the casing, a locking member mounted within said casing and having a part adapted to enter said recess, a plurality of controlling members extending about said plunger and said locking member and each having a recess adapted to be moved into alinement With said locking member, each controlling device comprising tWo members capable of adjustment relative one to the other, and means carried by said casing and operable from the exterior thereof for actuating said controlling members.

25. The combination, with a movable plunger having spaced recesses, and a lock- JOHN E. POTTS.

Witnesses:

F. W. SCHAEFER, EDWARD L. REED.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for live cents each, by addressing the Oomnumoner of Patents,

Washington, I). 0. 

